Classic Girl's Back to School Look for from Gymboree

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Here are a few classic pieces from the girls school uniform collection that you can find in-stores or online at Gymboree.  When you combine all of these pieces together, they work for most school uniform dress policies.  Girls that are not required to wear uniform can still enjoy these items in the non-traditional uniform colors or by wearing them as separates with items from other collections.  Gymboree may not be the first retailer you think of when shopping for school uniforms, but they do stock the uniform collection year round.  The uniform collection is frequently on sale during the back to school shopping season and at several other points during the year.


The Uniform Cardigan is a must have.  If the school is air conditioned, these sweaters take off the chill in the early fall.  And they add a layer of warmth that can be worn over other items later in the season.  In the winter, they look adorable over a simple turtleneck.  It also pairs nicely over a jumper or the polo dress.  Shown here in navy, it is also available in white. My daughter always got great use of her white cardigans all summer long as she wore them over her brightly colored sundresses.





The Uniform Skort is another must have for any uniform girl.  The built in shorts underneath make it easy to play on the playground and sit modestly for circle time.  It is longer in length than the uniform skirt hitting above the knee. It is shown here in red, but of course, it is also available in navy.

I love the button-up  girls uniform shirt at the Gymboree, but all of those buttons can be a bit much for tiny fingers.  The Uniform Pique Polo Shirt is easy to pull over the head when getting dressed in the morning.  The collar, placket and detail on the shoulder of the sleeve make this top cute, stylish and simple.






When my daughter was younger, I loved to shop at Gymboree for hair accessories for her.  Well, all of their accessories are awesome.  We still have a Streamer Hair Pony like this one that I purchased years ago.  It was her favorite hair tie and she wore it every PE day.  Super girly and cute.  It is hard to find hair accessories in colors to match school uniforms, so I always snatch these up during Back to School season.

Fun Find: Girls Long Sleeved Ruffled Cardigan Sweater

This long sleeved ruffled cardigan from Children's Place is a fashion friendly option for girls that are required to wear school uniforms.  It is available in sizes XS (4) through XL (14) and is made from 100% cotton jersey.  It seems like it would be perfect to have handy during the warmer months when she might need a light layer while inside in the air conditioning. The style is versatile that she can wear it over dresses too. This sweater is offered in navy or gray retailing for $24.95.

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School Uniform Girls' Performance Zip-front Cardigan, a review

School Uniform Girls 
Performance Zip-front Cardigan-Classic

Last year, we reviewed the Girls' Zip-front Drifter Cardigan. It became my daughter's favorite go-to sweater all year long. New for the 2015-2016 school year, Lands' End began offering a similar zip-front sweater. So when my daughter's favorite zip front drifter began to get snug on her, we ordered this updated version. Here's a list of features listed in the product description:

• Resists fading and pilling for long-lasting color and comfort 
• Easy-care blend feels soft as cotton 
• Fully-fashioned construction for a great fit 
• Full-zip front 
• Easy-moving raglan sleeves 
• 60% cotton/40% rayon-modal 
• Machine wash/Imported

Compared to last year's version, the collar on this new one is smaller, more like a traditional cardigan and the fabric is a softer cotton blend.  I agree with the claim that it resists fading. We've washed the product numerous times so far and it is holding it's color well.  Also, no pilling so far.  The feel of the cotton is soft to the touch while the weight of the sweater feels substantial and warm. My daughter quickly adopted this as her new favorite sweater.  She demanded I put it in her book bag in the early fall when a lighter weight sweater may have been more appropriate.  I understood why when I visited the classroom for our first parent teacher conference of the year.  It is freezing in her classroom.  The teacher said the room is the coldest in the school and she encourages the kids to always have a sweater on hand.

I was surprised when I went to wash it for the first time.  I read the tags that recommended 'block flat to dry".  Huh?  I honestly had no idea what that meant. So, I did what any normal person would do, I Googled it. It outlined a method that made sense laundering hand knitted clothing and fragile fine fabric sweaters. I quickly decided that the process was too complicated for me, as a busy working Mom.  I don't have time to find butcher paper and trace the outline of the sweater, etc.  It all seemed like too much effort for a simple school sweater that I wash every weekend.  Instead, I tested my own simpler method.  I made sure the zipper was fastened and washed the sweater in cold water in the delicate cycle with other items that seem suited for that cycle.  Normally, I then would have thrown it in the dryer on low.  Instead, I "blocked" it, not to fit its traced outline on paper, but instead I simply shaped it resemble its original shape and size and then carefully laid it across my drying rack to air dry.

After repeating this process each week for a several months now, the sweater has held its original shape and looks just fine.  If you've devised your own simple strategy for blocking sweaters, please feel free to share your feedback in the comments below.  Also if you also have this sweater, tell us how you launder it.

My overall opinion is that this sweater is worth the money.  It retails for $50, so try to catch it on sale. At 30% off, it will definitely earn it's keep in the school wardrobe rotation.  I would guess that my daughter will end up getting at least 2 years of wear from this sweater before she outgrows it.

What's New at Lands End for Back to School 2015

The Lands' End Back to School catalog arrived in my mailbox this year in June when my daughter had 3 days left on the school year.  Kids in Virginia get out of school later than kids in most other states, but the back to school shopping season also seems to start earlier each year. 

When I browsed the catalog and found a few new or updated items that are definitely worth passing along. Below are a few of my favorites:

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Boy's Perfect Shirt

Boy's Perfect Shirt

Mom's of little boys will be happy to hear about the new Boys' Perfect shirt.  It sounds so awesome, my husband will want to try one.

Features:

• The armholes have been redesigned to give him more room to move.
• The easy care fabric resists wrinkles so he can wear it straight from the dryer.
• It has a comfort collar with an elastic tab button so it is never too tight.
• They added stain release to the cuffs and the collar to keep them looking great.
• The shirt wicks moisture, dries quickly and helps balance body temperature. 

Girls Performance
Zip-front Cardigan

School Uniform Girls' Performance Zip-front Cardigan

Last year, we reviewed the Girls' Zip-front Drifter Cardigan. It became her favorite go-to sweater all year long. New this year, Lands' End is offering a similar zip-front sweater. The collar on this one is smaller, more like a traditional cardigan and the fabric is a cotton blend. We're definitely going to have to try it out this year.

Features

• Resists fading and pilling for long-lasting color and comfort
• Easy-care blend feels soft as cotton
• Fully-fashioned construction for a great fit
• Full-zip front
• Easy-moving raglan sleeves
• 60% cotton/40% rayon-modal
• Machine wash/Imported

Girls' Button Front
Solid A-line Jumper

Girls' Button Front Solid A-line Jumper

We reviewed and loved the School Uniform Girls' Button-front Ponté Skort last season. The quality held up so well, my daughter will be able to wear it again for another season.  This year, Lands' End took the button look and put it on the classic jumper. 

Features:

• Easy-care convenience
• Functional front placket
• Top-of-knee length
• 65% polyester/35% rayon blend
• Polyester lining
• Machine wash/Imported

Boy's Performance Button
Front Cardigan Sweater

Boys' Performance Button Front Cardigan Sweater

This classic button front sweater is still available in the 100% cotton version, but now it is also available in a easy care cotton/rayon-modal blend.

Features:

• Easy-care fabric resists pilling, fading & shrinkage
• Rib-knit placket, cuff & pocket trim
• 60% cotton/40% rayon-modal
• Machine wash/Imported

(Photos used with permission from Lands' End)